Convertible tricycle



No. 609,237. c. D- MONNOT' Patented Aug. l6, I898.

CONVERTIBLE TRICYCLE.

(Applistion filed Dec. 3, 1897.)

(No Model.)

PATENT rricn.

CHARLES D. MONNOT, OF CANTON, OHIO.

CONVERTIBLE TRICYCL E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,237, dated August 16, 1898. Application filed December 3, 1897. fierial N0-.660,614=. (N0 model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Tricycles; and

I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a view showing a portion of the steerin g-head, also showing the yoke properly connected when said yoke is to be applied to a tricycle. Fig. i is a view showing manner of attaching upper brace. Fig. 5 is a view showing manner of connecting lower brace-rod to the pedal-shaft housing, and Fig. 6 is a view showing the lower portion of the yoke and manner of connecting same.

The present invention has relation to convertible tricycles; and it consists in the'different parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

provide a tricycle especially designed for use in delivering goods of light nature and small packages.

Another object is to provide a means for quickly and easily converting the tricycle herein shown into a bicycle.

Similar numbers of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- 1ngs.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the pedal-shaft, which is located and arranged in the ordinary manner and is provided with the ordinary sprocket-wheel 2 and the pedalcrank 3.

A drive-chain, such as e or its equivalent, is connected to the rear wheel 5 in the ordinary and usual manner.

The frame 6 is constructed and arranged as usual and may be of any desired kind or style, inasmuch as the frame forms no particular part of the present invention, except that an ordinary bicycle-frame must neces sarily be employed to carry out the objects and purposes hereinafter described.

To the steering-post 7 is connected the fork 8, which fork is provided with the ordinary tube, located in the steering-head 7, and its top or upper end provided with the handlebar 9.

When the device hereinafter described is to beused as a tricycle, the fork 8 is located as illustrated in the drawings, and, as illustrated, its bottom or lower end is adjusted so as to bring the curved portion rearward or toward the propelling-wheel 5. To the bottom or lower end of the fork 8 are connected the bars 10, to which bars is connected the semicircular bar 11, which semicircular bar is pivotally attached to the bifurcated head 12, which bifurcated head is securely attached to the rear side of the receptacle l3, substantially as illustrated in the drawings, and turns upon the rivet or bolt 14, which rivet or bolt provides the pivotal point between the front or forward wheels 15 and the rear wheel 5.

It will be understood that by curving the bottom or lower portion of the yoke 8 rearward and bringing the pivotal point for the bottom or lower end of said fork forward to a point directly in line with the steering-head 6,

and that when the bars 10 are moved by means of the fork 8 the outer ends of said bars 10 will describe the arc of a circle of which the forward pivotal point is a center, by which arrangement the receptacle 13 can be formed much larger by reason of less room being re- 'quired between the sides of the receptacle and the wheels 15.

To the outer ends of the bars 10 are pivoted the connecting-rods 16 ,which connecting-rods are bent or curved asillustrated in the draw ings, and are so bent for the purpose of bringing said connecting-bars 16 outof the way of the traveling wheels 15 when they are turned as illustratedin the dotted lines, Fig. 2.

To the sides of the receptacle 13 are connected the flanges or plates 17, which flanges or plates may be of the form shown, or they may be of any other desired form, said flanges being for the purpose of holding the bars 18, to which bars are connected or formed integral therewith the arms 19 and 20, said arms being connected together at their outer ends, and to the connected outer ends are attached the wheel-axles 21, upon which axles the wheels 15 revolve.

For the purpose of providing ameans for connecting the bars 18 so that they can be moved together with the different parts belonging to said bars 18 by means of the handlebar 9 and the different attachments and connections the arms 22 are provided, which arms are connected to the front or forward ends of the connecting-rods 16.

For the purpose of providing suitable elasticity and removing the jar the springs 23 are provided, which springs are located as illustrated in Fig. 3 and surround reduced portions of the bars 18.

hen it is desired to convert the hereinafter-described tricycle into a bicycle,the nuts 24 are released by turning them upon the screw-threaded bar 25, after which the yoke is free to be removed, which detaches the re ceptacle 13, together with its different parts, from the frame 6, it being understood, however, that the brace-bars 26 and 27 must also be detached from the frame 6, after which the fork 8 is turned so as to bring its bottom or lower end directly opposite from that shown in the drawings and a Wheel, such as 15, connected in the ordinary manner, thereby producing an ordinary bicycle. It will, however, be understood that the handle-bar 9 must also be adjusted so as to bring it in proper position for use after the fork 8 has been changed to convert the herein-described tricycle into a bicycle. For the purpose of properly staying the steering-head 7 in relation to the receptacle 13 the brace 28 is provided, which brace is connected to the steering head or post and to the receptacle.

For the purpose of detaching the receptacle, together with the different parts belonging thereto, it is only necessary to loosen the nut 29 and the nuts 24: and the set-screw 30,

so as to release the rear end of the rod 26, by

which arrangement the frame 6 is detached and the fork 8 is free to be turned so as to bring it in proper position to connect the front or forward Wheel of a bicycle, which arrangement completely converts the hereindescribed tricycle into a bicycle.

By my construction I am enabled to set the receptacle low down and at the same time provide compact means for guiding the tricycle proper.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a bicycle-frame, a fork located at the forward end thereof, and curved rearward at its lower end, a receptacle provided with the bar 11 located in front of the lower end of the fork, and pivoted at a fixed point, bars connected to the lower end of the fork, curved links or bars 16 pivotally connected to the lower end of the fork, vertical bars pivoted to the sides of the receptacle and provided with wheel-axles, and the arms 22 pivotally attached to the curved links or bars 16, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of an ordinary bicycleframe, a fork located at the forward end thereof curved rearward at its bottom or lower end and provided with a steering-handle, a receptacle provided with the pivoted bar 11, said pivoted bar connected to the bottom or lower end of the fork, bars fixed to the lower end of the fork and at the sides thereof, curved links or bars pivotally attached to the bars located at the sides of the fork, vertical bars located at the sides of the receptacle and provided with wheel-axles and arms, and the curved links 16 pivoted to the arms, and the springs 23 located at the upper and lower ends of the vertical bars 18, and the bar 26 secured to the receptacle and to the frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a bicycle-frame, a receptacle supported at its sides in a low position, a fork located at the front or forward end of the frame and curved rearward at its lower end, a bar fixed to the lower end of the fork and pivotally connected to the receptacle, bars 10 fixed to the fork, links 16 pivotally connected to the bars 10 at their rear ends, vertical bars pivotally attached to the sides of the receptacle and provided with arms 22 and wheel-axles 21 the links 16 pivotally attached to the arms 22, and the bracebars 26 and 27, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. MONNOT.

\Vitnesses:

F. W. BOND, J. A. JEFFERS.

I 1 g g 

